9 Day Alentejo & Douro Valley Discovery

Introduction to Lisbon

You’ll meet your local guide at your hotel today and set out on an introductory walking touring of Lisbon, known as the City of the 7 Hills. From afar these hills look like a montage of traditional white painted houses and stone walled churches each taking up the little space left between them, so typical of a southern European country.

Within these 7 hills there are innumerous “treasures” to discover. You'll begin in downtown Lisbon, with a visit to the Saint Jorge Castle for scenic views of the city and stroll through the historic quarters. With your guide explore the popular neighborhoods of Lisbon such as Alfama and Mouraria, where the sound of Fado emulates through the narrow streets coming from small taverns.Coming down to the “Baixa” with its imponent squares, traditional shops and electric trams going up and down the century old cobbled streets. Chiado and Bairro Alto are the trendy quarters, with designer shops, lively night-time bars or roof top sunset cocktails.

During your visit today, stop for a tasting of local products such as cured ham, Azores cheese, bread and round it out with a glass of Port wine.

Reservation at Pateo – Bairro de Avillez

After a morning of exploring, your reserved table will be waiting for you at Pateo – Bairro de Avillez where you can enjoy a delicious lunch (to be paid directly).

Scenic Lisbon Afternoon

Following lunch, continue to explore the downtown of Lisbon with your guide and ride one of the electric cable cars, a postcard image of Lisbon and go visit the St. Jorge Castle for some incredible views of Lisbon and the Tagus River.

At the end of the afternoon, you’ll return to your hotel to rest and freshen up before dinner.

Fado Show with Traditional Dinner

This evening, make your way to a special dinner with Fado show in a traditional neighborhood.

A symbol of identity, Fado music is widely sung in Lisbon and represents a distinctly Portuguese multicultural synthesis of Afro-Brazilian music, local genres of song and dance, rural music, and urban song patterns of the early nineteenth century. Fado is typically performed by a solo male or female singer, accompanied by an acoustic guitar and the Portuguese guitarra, a pear-shaped twelve-stringed lute. It is performed professionally and informally in grass-root associations and often transmitted over successive generations within the same families. Fado is inscribed by Unesco as a cultural intangible heritage since 2011.

Your special dinner will include a traditional menu with 3 courses and house wines from the restaurant, all while you assist to a very intimate Fado performance from well-known local artists (included).

Alentejo Region Discovery

This morning after breakfast you’ll meet your driver guide for a day of exploration in Alentejo.

You’ll begin with a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage listed city of Évora. Set out for a walking tour of the historic center. True city-museum, Évora has its origin in the period of the Roman Empire and was marked by the Arabian occupation between the 7th and 12th centuries. The city extends itself over a hill at the golden plain of Alentejo, and guards its historic center with a vast outer wall and represents a valuable cultural legacy. Its narrow streets of Moorish origin contrasting with squares where the light floods in, holds two millennia of history, revealing surprises of a monumentality where stands out the cathedral and the roman temple of Diana. The famous Giraldo square is the meeting point of the city. At the center, the attractive marble spring fountain from the 16th century. The Church of S. Francisco (Saint Francis) is one of the best-defined examples of the gothic - Moorish style.

We then make our way to the famous Adega da Cartuxa Wine Estate, just outside of the city of Evora, where you’ll have time for lunch at Enoteca Cartuxa at this beautiful estate (to be paid directly).

In the afternoon, you’ll continue through the countryside of Alentejo, and have a guided visit and wine tasting at an Alentejo wine estate, Casa Relvas, a family wine estate in its 5th generation.

Following the tasting, you’ll be transferred back to Lisbon.

Transfer to Duoro Valley via Dão

This morning, after checking out of your hotel, your private guide will pick you up for your journey towards the Douro Valley. En route, you’ll visit the Dão Wine region in the center of Portugal.

Your destination today is the Quinta do Soito Wine Estate where you’ll be treated to a privately guided visit with premium wine tasting and picnic overlooking the vineyards. Soito Wines, created in 2013, is one of Dão’s youngest and most promising projects. At Quinta do Soito, with an already long wine tradition, two teachers gave wings to the dream of transforming the family farm into a reference producer, with wines of exceptional quality.

Departing the estate, you’ll continue to the Douro Valley, where you’ll check into your hotel and enjoy the evening at leisure.

Douro Valley Exploration

After breakfast this morning, you’ll be joined by your private guide as you set out for a charming day in the vineyards and rolling hills of the Douro Valley.

Your guide will transfer you to the town of Pinhao. You will be have some time to explore the charming village of Pinhão and its historical train station. The Pinhão train station dates back to the early 20th century, a time when the Douro railway was used in good part to transport wines down to Porto, and no longer by river boats. It is craftfully decorated with Portuguese Azulejo tiles, in total 3047 tiles compose 24 panels that illustrate “Scenes of life in the Douro”.

Next, embark on a private cruise on the Douro river aboard a typical “Rabelo” boat (50min). One of the most interesting ways to discover the Douro Valley is in an enchanting cruise. The boat is a replica of a traditional Rabelo boat that, for centuries, carried casks of young wine from the Douro Valley downriver to the lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia.

Your cruise will end at the river dock of Quinta do Crasto wine estate, considered to be one of the top wine producers in Portugal. On arrival, transfer in a classic Bedford farm truck from the river dock up to the estate.

A member of the famous Quinta do Crasto will be pleased to receive you for a visit to the vineyards and wine cellars, followed by a taste of its red Douro wines and Ports (Late Bottle Vintage and Vintage). This ancestral Quinta with 130 hectares is located in the Cima Corgo area of the Demarcated Region of Douro in the right bank of the Douro River. It is planted with 60 hectares of excellent vineyards, some almost eighty years old. This special visit will allow you to discover one of the mythical wine estates of the Douro Valley, considered to be one of the 3 top Portuguese wine producers.

A private lunch will be set outside by their house and vineyards, with an astonishing view of the river and valley. The main dish is the famous country duck rice with Crasto wines.

Departing the estate, you’ll enjoy a guided panoramic along the backroads of the Douro and mountain villages on the way to the next wine estate, with some stops along the way for brief walks through the villages.

Next you’ll arrive at the Wine and Soul estate for visit and wine tasting. Wine&Soul?has embodied the spirit of the new wave of high quality and strong individuality Douro wines sourced from very old individual vineyards, low yields limited production wines that showcase the character of each particular vineyard, the very special nature of each unique terroir. Wines made with a minimal winemaking intervention giving way for nature and terroir to take the lead and speak for themselves.

Following the visit, your guide will return you to your hotel in the early evening to freshen up before dinner.

Gourmet Dining Experience at DOC Restaurant

This evening, you’ll be transferred to your dinner at the stunning riverside Restaurant DOC. Enjoy a gourmet dinner experience with four-courses paired with wines.

This beautiful restaurant was built on a pier on the Douro River, offering a fabulous view over the river waters and vineyard terraces around this UNESCO site. The cuisine represents the best between Portuguese tradition of selected regional produce and the refined culinary art of Chef Rui Paula. Inspired by Douro recipes, Rui Paula uses the fragrances of Douro and Port wines to craft a divine menu. Food and wine pairing is one of the specialties of the house with an excellent choice of Douro’s best wine.

Duoro Valley to Porto

You will be joined by your private driver guide this morning as you depart the Douro Valley and head towards Porto. Before departing however, enjoy a final special tasting in the region.

You will be welcomed to Mourão Estate. Enjoy an exclusive visit & rare wine tasting: discovering the origin of Old Tawny Ports, up to 100 years old! This property is referred since the 18th century in the map of the Demarcated Region of Douro. The owner is a producer of old Port Wines which are in the origin of the finest blends of Tawny Ports. His very complex wines are carefully matured in cask for tens of years and he sells small amounts used in the blending of Old Tawny Ports.

Not being open for visitors, the owner will personally receive guests in his winery for a unique wine cask tasting of rare Ports, wines not available in the market. Tasting will start with a 10-year-old wine and go up to a very rare 100-year-old wine, with exceptional quality. A journey through 10 Ports covering a century of history.

Leaving the estate, you’ll enjoy a scenic drive west towards the coast towards your next destination, Porto.

Graham’s Port Wine Cellar with Lunch

Arriving in Porto, you will be welcomed to Graham’s Port Wine Cellar to enjoy a private visit of the facilities and the extensive cellar. The cellar has a collection of over 3,500 barrels of aging port, some of which date back more than a century. Afterwards enjoy a tasting of 5 Ports.

Graham's was founded in 1820 by William Graham, who was a Scottish wine merchant. The company quickly established a reputation for producing some of the finest port wines in the region. In 1970, Graham's was acquired by the current owners the Symington family, who have been involved in the port wine trade for more than 130 years. The Graham's Port Wine Cellar is housed in a beautiful 1890s building that overlooks the Douro River.

Afterwards, enjoy a 3-course lunch at Graham’s restaurant & wine bar, Vinum. It was created from a passion for wine and a deep attachment to the beautiful Douro vineyards. Surrounded by 3,200 oak barrels where the Porto fine wines of Graham's are aged; the main dining room at Vinum is situated in the heart of a magnificent 19th century wine cellar. After lunch, your guide will deliver you to your hotel for some time to check in an freshen up.

Introduction to Porto

Meet your guide at your accommodation this afternoon and together set our for a private walking tour of the historic center of Porto.

As you set on this discovery along the ancient streets and medieval lanes you will visit some of the most important monuments of Porto such as the São Bento train station, a neoclassic jewel, and the stunning Porto Cathedral which dates back to the 12th century. You will also have the opportunity to visit the historic Lello bookstore, known for its beautiful interior, including a stunning wooden staircase and stained glass windows.

Matosinhos Exploration

This morning, leave the centre of Porto behind and arrive at the fishing port of Matosinhos.

Matosinhos is the biggest discharging-port of the world-famous Portuguese sardine. On arrival, you’ll be met by a local chef, and will visit a fishermans village and local market to purchase the fresh fish of the day.

Next you’ll be transferred to a restaurant, where you’ll have a private, hands-on cooking lesson with the chef, preparing lunch with the fresh fish and seafood.

Enjoy the lunch you’ve prepared, perhaps pairing it with some vinho verde wine, light, fresh and with light acidity, from the neighbor wine region of Minho, is the ideal match to this delicate food.

After lunch, you’ll be transfered back to your Porto hotel to enjoy the rest of the day as you wish.

A Day in Aveiro

After checking out this morning, join your guide as you make our way towards Lisbon.

En-route, we will stop in the colorful town of Aveiro. Known as the Venice of Portugal, Aveiro is surrounded by salt-flats, beaches and lagoons and dominated by the Central Canal running through town. This city was once a great seaport with a history linked to its saltpans dating back prior to 959AD as recorded in the will of Countess Mumadona. Much later, in the 16th Century it acquired new prosperity through its cod fishing industry practiced off the coast of Newfoundland. Today the old lagoon of about 65 sq. km. still has its charm with the many canals and the distinctive and colorful “Moliceiros” boats that are used to collect seaweed. The town is essentially a mixture of neat fishermen’s cottages and Art Nouveau mansions with a few historic buildings.

On arrival, you’ll be treated to a private visit of Vista Alegre, a famous porcelain and crystal factory, with behind-the-scenes entrance to the painters area, where each porcelain piece is hand-painted. Founded in 1824, it is one of the oldest and most prestigious porcelain manufacturers in Europe. The products are known for their high quality, unique designs, and intricate details, which are achieved through a combination of traditional craftsmanship and modern technology.

Enjoy free time for lunch on your own in Aveiro, we suggest having the roasted suckling pig that is the most famous dish from the Bairrada region.

In the afternoon, you’ll have the opportunity to experience Aveiro’s most historic traditions. These include a cruise on a “Moliceiro” boat on the canals, known as “The Venice of Portugal”. Afterwards, a local guide will meet you for a visit to a salt pan, an important industry in Aveiro.

Continue on the road to Lisbon (~2hr45), where you can stop for a coffee break along the way.

In the late afternoon you’ll arrive back in Lisbon and check into your hotel near the airport.

Check out from your accommodation and make your way to Lisbon airport to catch your departing flight.